Death toll from marketplace bombs in Shiite-dominated region of NW Pakistan now 57

PARACHINAR, Pakistan – Officials say the death toll from a pair of overnight bombings at a busy market in a Shiite-dominated region of northern Pakistan has risen to 57.

Hospital official Shabir Hussain and Shiite leader Hamid Ali said Saturday that another 167 were wounded in Friday's bombings in the town of Parachinar, which sits in the Kurram tribal area that borders Afghanistan to the west. The market was full of minority Shiite Muslims who were buying items for their evening meal that breaks the daytime fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

Hussain said almost all the dead and wounded were Shiites.

No one claimed responsibility, but authorities have blamed militant groups belonging to the Sunni Muslim majority for previous attacks.